Hamas holds consultations in Qatar to select successor to assassinated Ismail Haniyeh

The Palestinian Islamist military organisation, Hamas, has held consultations in Qatar to choose a successor to the late head of the Hamas Politburo Ismail Haniyeh.

The leader of the organization in the Gaza Strip Yahya Sinuar opposes the candidacy of former Hamas Politburo Chairman Khaled Mashal, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Sinuar prefers a person with good relations with Iran and Syria, and sees Hamas Politburo member Ruwaili al-Haya as Haniyeh's successor.

No matter who succeeds Haniyeh, it will not affect Hamas' conduct of military action against Israel. The reason is that the organization's military leadership, including Sinuar, "manages operations with a high degree of autonomy."

Haniyeh's assassination occurred in Tehran, Iran on July 31. This killing took place while Haniyeh was attending an official event, notably the inauguration of Iran's new president, making his presence highly publicized. The exact details of how Haniyeh was killed remain unclear, with various reports suggesting different methods, including a missile strike or an explosive device.

The assassination provoked strong reactions from Iran's leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, as well as the Foreign Ministry and Parliament. Iranian media echoed these sentiments, displaying images of Haniyeh with messages promising retaliation.

Iranian authorities have arrested numerous high-ranking officials from their security agencies, underscoring the seriousness of the security breach.

As the political leader of Hamas, Haniyeh's death is a significant blow to the organization. Hamas and other Palestinian groups, such as Islamic Jihad, are expected to coordinate a response, potentially escalating tensions in the region.

Hezbollah, an ally of both Iran and Hamas, has also vowed to respond to Israeli actions, further increasing the likelihood of a coordinated retaliatory strike.